Toronto just finished a weekend series where they were swept – yes, swept – by the Chicago White Sox. Yes, those White Sox, who are widely considered to be among the worst teams in baseball. And this wasn’t just “win some/lose some” regular bit of baseball business. The Blue Jays got shut down, and it kinda makes last season feel like a dream sequence.
MORE: MLB catcher power rankings in week 3
Another Flat Offensive Showing
The White Sox finished the sweep with a 3-0 shutout, and the Jays’ offense did the same thing it’s been doing too often early in this season—create a little traffic, then do nothing with it. Toronto went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and that’s how you get blanked even when the pitching isn’t catastrophic.
From Contender to Question Mark
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) is congratulated by Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) after he scored a run during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Jays weren’t supposed to be fragile. They were the 2025 AL East champions, went 94-68, and were the American League champs. That wasn’t supposed to be a fluke. That was supposed to start a perennial pennant run in this window.
So when a team like that comes out and looks this punchless in a series, it should (at the very least) split. The question is clear—was 2025 the peak?
Warning Signs All Over Sunday
Sunday’s game itself had warning signs everywhere. Toronto starter Eric Lauer, returning from illness, lasted two innings and allowed two runs, with reduced sharpness and control from the first pitch. Then, the bats failed to punish a team they were not supposed to be intimidated by.
And this wasn’t one inning of bad luck—it was a full game of empty at-bats and wasted opportunity.
Injuries Starting to Pile Up
Oct 24, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Fans celebrate as Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger (47) runs after hitting a grand slam home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning during game one of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
And it’s already getting complicated. Addison Barger left the game with bilateral ankle discomfort, adding to a growing list of injuries. The expanding IL becomes even harder to navigate when a team is already struggling to find rhythm.
A Defining Series Ahead
The Jays don’t need to panic. But they do need to prove this isn’t who they are. The schedule doesn’t care about last year’s banner, and Toronto’s next test is right here, right now—they’re coming home to host the Dodgers.
If Toronto looks flat again this week, the one-year wonder conversation stops being a cheap take and becomes a real storyline. Because legit teams don’t come out this soft.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —